Counterbalance



.5 i5, 193 R. c. AKER 5 GOUNTEHBALANCE Filed Nov. 22, 1926 INVENTOR. mum is. M,

.4 TTORNEYS.

Fatenteti duiy 15,1939

REUBEN C. BAKER, OF COALINGA, CALIFORNIA COUNTERBALANCE Application filed November 22, 1926. Serial No. 150,043.

This invention relates to counterbalancing devices for band wheel shafts of deep well pum ing equipment.

en pumping a deep well the weight of the pump rods and auxiliary members is suspended directly from the walking beam. This weight is usually considerable and it has been found desirable to counterbalance it to reduce the amount of power required to drive the pumping mechanism. Such a counterbalancing device is disclosed in my Letters Patent of the United States entitled Counterbalance, #1,636,274, issued July 19, 1927.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a generally improved and simplified counterbala'ncing device of the character referred to which counterbalancing device is provided with a movable counterweight and a simple operating mechanism by means of which the position of the counterweight relative to the band wheel shaft may be quickly and easily changed to I suit conditions.

In carrying out the invention into practice I provide a counterweight arm adapted to be secured on the band wheel shaft. A counterweight is provided which is slidably mounted on the arm and which is engaged with a feed screw arranged longitudinally of the arm and collared against axial movement, so that rotation of the feed screw will adva? e or retract the counterweight along the aim and change its position relative to the shaft.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a counterweight arm embodying the preferred form of'my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section through the counterweight disclosing the manner in which it is connected with the counterweight arm and with the feed nut.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 indicates a band wheel shaft of a well pumping rig. The connections between this shaft and the pumping rig is well known and is therefore not illustrated.

For the purpose of counterbalancing the weight of the reciprocating parts I provide an arm 11 which is formed with a split bearing 12 at one end by which it may be connected to the band wheel shaft 10. A key 14 is provided so that the arm may be keyed securely to the band wheel shaft, so that the shaft and arm will revolve in unison.

The body portion-of the arm 11 is formed with parallel sides, and with a longitudinal guideway 15 between the sides. This guideway extends short of the ends of the arm as illustrated in Fig. 1. Extending longitu-- dinally and centrally through the arm 11 is a feed screw 16. At the inner end of the arm the feed screw 16 is formed with a head 17 which rests within a recess at the .inner The outer end of the feed screw projects through the outer end of the arm and is formed with a squared portion 18 by which it may be rotated.

It will be noticed from Fig. 1 that at its opposite ends the feed screw is turnably mounted in the ends of the arm so that it will be rotatably mounted along the central axis of the arm within the recess or guideway 15 therein.

Slidably mounted on the arm is a counterweight 19 which is formed in two halves, the dividing line occurring at its center. One half of the counterweight is formed with projecting lugs 20-which engage recesses 21 formed in the other half so that the halves of the counterweight, when bolted together by means of bolts 22, will be interlocked. A central opening 23 is formed through the counterweight so that it may be slidably mounted on the arm 11.

Arranged within the guideway 15 of the arm 11 and threaded on the feed screw 16 is a feed nut 21. This feed nut extends outwardly from the guideway 15 and nests within side recesses 25 formed within the counterweight. nut 24 prevents relative movement between it and the counterweight. Therefore, as the This connection between the feed feed screw 16 is held'against axial movement when it is rotated it will advance the feed nut and the counterweight along the arm 11 in a direction determined by the direction of rotation of the feed screw 16. In this manner the position of the counterweight may be readily changed to suit conditions.

In operation of the device, it is assembled as shown in the drawin s and the bearm 12 m of the arm is mounte on the band w eel shaft. After determining the desired 051- tion of the counterweight relative to the and wheel shaft, the feed screw 16 is revolved to advance or retract the counterweight along the arm 11 until the desired position is reached.

It is obvious that this means of adjusting the counterweight is considerably improve over prior devices as it is not necessary to 20 remove the counterweight from the arm to ad'ust its position thereon. Likewise the ad1ustment of the counterweight can be effected easily and quickly.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departin from the spirit of the invention, as define in the appended claims.

3o Havin thus described my invention, what I cfiiirn and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. A counterbalancing device for well pumpin apparatuses and the like comprising :25 an arm having a means at one end whereby it may be connected at one end to the band wheel shaft of the apparatus and extend radiall of the shaft, said arm being formed wit a longitudinal guideway, a feed screw mounted 40 in the arm and held from axial movement, said feed screw extending longitudinally of the. guideway, a feed nut arranged in the guideway and threaded upon said feed screw, a counterweight slidably mounted on the arm and connected with said feed nut whereby rotation of the feed screw will move the counterweight along the arm.

2. A counterbalancing device for well I I pumping apparatuses and the like comlprismg an arm avin a means at one end w ereby it may be fixe at one end to a shaft and extend radiall of the latter, said arm being formed with alongitudinal ideway extending short of'its ends, a fee screw extending longitudinally of the arm through said guide- Way and being held from axial movement, a feed nut arran ed in the guideway and threaded on said feed screw, and. a two-part counterweight being recessed to receive said 00 feed nut and arm and guided on the arm for movement there-along whereby rotation of the feed screw will move the counterweight along the arm.

REUBEN C. BAKER. 

